The Gig is Up in California!

PORT OF LOS ANGELES/LONG BEACH, CA – 24 California port truck drivers employed by NFI Industries/California Cartage, the largest goods movement operator at the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, have been awarded nearly $6 million by the California Labor Commissioner for wage theft due to misclassification as independent contractors. In an unprecedented decision, the Labor Commissioner issued individual joint liability against the general manager at NFI’s California Cartage Express who oversaw and directed the day-to-day work, and misclassification of, the 24 drivers.

Fact sheet on NFI/California Cartage history of lawlessness at the Ports of LA/Long Beach

These cases mark the first time that the individual liability provision of California Senate Bill 588 (Labor Code Section 558.1) has been applied in port trucking.

SB 588, among other things, “reduces the abuse of our corporate laws. Businesses can no longer use layers of subcontracts and unclear reporting relationships to deliberately make enforcing labor laws difficult. Additionally, individuals involved in wage theft will now be held accountable.” Source: UCLA Labor Center, Oct. 13, 2015.

So in California, the gig is up. California is leading the way on ending wage theft through misclassification. SB 588 holds the boss accountable, and SB 1402 holds the customers accountable. Further, the Los Angeles City Attorney has sued three NFI/Cal Cartage companies for wage theft and unfair competition, and the Los Angeles City Council overrode the LA Harbor Commission by refusing to give a lease to NFI on property owned by the Port of Los Angeles due to strikes and disruption caused by workers protesting their misclassification (as of this release, the company is continuing to operate without a lease on port property).

NFI/California Cartage, based in Wilmington, CA, is one of the largest goods movement companies in America, with warehouses and port trucking operations across the U.S. In 2018, the California Cartage family of companies was acquired by the New Jersey-based National Freight Industries (NFI). Previous to this acquisition, Cal Cartage was owned and managed by Robert Curry, Sr., and his family. NFI/Cal Cartage represents the largest trucking operation at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach by a wide margin.

Port drivers are working together with the Teamsters Union and other labor, community and faith allies to fight for change in the port trucking industry. More than 75,000 strong, port drivers haul imports and exports, keeping the American economy running.